UK name, mostly boys
Devan
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "divine" or "heavenly.".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Devan is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Devan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2921, with 7 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 36 births.
This profile covers 614 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 19% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 618 living people in the UK are called Devan. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Devan ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 7 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 36 boys were registered as Devan.
- • Devan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #474 in 2008.
- • About 618 living people in the UK are estimated to have Devan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 88.6% of Devan registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2921
2024
Births in 2024
7
Latest year
Peak year
2010
36 births
Estimated living
618
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Devan
In England and Wales birth records, Devan has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 88.6% of registrations are for boys and 11.4% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Devan registered for boys
- Ranked #2,921 in 2024
- 7 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2010 (36 births)
Devan registered for girls
- Ranked #4,838 in 2012
- 4 girls registered in 2012
- Peak: 1997 (11 births)
Meaning
What does Devan mean?
The name Devan is of Indian origin, derived from the Sanskrit word "deva," which means "god" or "divine." This name traces its roots back to ancient Hindu scriptures and mythological texts, where it was often used to refer to celestial beings or deities.
In ancient Indian literature, the name Devan appears in various forms, such as Deva, Devah, and Devan. It was a popular name among the Brahmin caste, who were considered the highest social class in the traditional Hindu caste system. The name was associated with spiritual enlightenment, wisdom, and divine qualities.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Devan can be found in the Rig Veda, one of the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism, composed around 1500 BCE. In this ancient text, the name is mentioned in reference to various deities and celestial beings.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Devan. One of the most famous was Devan Bhagavata Purana, a Hindu philosopher and scholar who lived in the 12th century CE. He was renowned for his commentaries on the Bhagavata Purana, a revered Hindu scripture.
Another prominent individual with this name was Devan Bhatta, a 16th-century Indian mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the fields of trigonometry and calculus, and his works were widely studied and celebrated.
In the realm of literature, Devan Nambiar was a renowned 18th-century Malayalam poet and playwright from Kerala, India. His works, which explored themes of love, spirituality, and social commentary, are considered masterpieces of Malayalam literature.
Moving to more modern times, Devan Nair was a prominent Singaporean politician and diplomat who served as the third President of Singapore from 1981 to 1985. He played a crucial role in the nation's development and was respected for his dedication to public service.
Another notable figure is Devan Dubnyk, a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender who has played for several teams in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was born in 1986 and is known for his exceptional goaltending skills and longevity in the league.
While these are just a few examples, the name Devan has been carried by many other notable individuals throughout history, spanning various fields and cultures. Its rich heritage and spiritual connotations continue to make it a popular choice for parents seeking a name with deep meaning and significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Devan over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Devan in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Devan, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 7 births in 2024, compared with 36 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Devan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Devan was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #1736 | 78 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1272 | 226 | 10 |
| 2000s | #895 | 245 | 10 |
| 1990s | #947 | 65 | 4 |
Geography
Where Devan is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Devan. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Devan ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #474 in 2008.
Across the UK
Devan in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#474 in 2008
2 years of NRS records, 9 total registered
Related
Names similar to Devan
- Daniel 120,900
- Dylan 60,836
- David 37,852
- Dominic 20,480
- Declan 11,657
- Dexter 11,627
- Danny 8,434
- Dean 5,329
- Dillon 4,113
- Douglas 3,773
- Dominik 3,494
- Damian 3,486
FAQ
Devan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Devan in the UK right now?
In 2024, Devan was ranked #2921 for boys in England and Wales, with 7 births registered.
When was Devan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 36 babies registered as Devan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Devan?
A masculine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "divine" or "heavenly.".
How many people are called Devan in the UK?
A total of 614 babies have been registered as Devan across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 9 more in Scotland.
Where is Devan most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Devan ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #474 in 2008. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.